I didn’t send these prophets, yet they ran. I didn’t speak to them, yet they prophesied.
Parallel translations
- KJV I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
- BSB I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
- NKJV “Ihave not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
- NASB “I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied.
- NLT “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God did not send these prophets, yet they ran and prophesied on their own. They speak presumptuously without any divine commission.
Overview
The LORD plainly disowns the false prophets: He neither sent nor spoke to them, yet they eagerly ran to deliver their own messages as if from Him. This self-appointed ministry is the essence of false prophecy. The verse underscores that true authority to speak for God comes only by His sending, a principle that guards the church against those who claim divine sanction for their own words.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 14:14Then Yahweh said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in my name. I didn’t send them, neither have I commanded them, neither did I speak to them. They prophesy to you a lying vision, divination, and a thing of nothing, and the deceit of their own heart.
- Jer 27:15For I have not sent them,” says Yahweh, “but they prophesy falsely in my name; that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you, and the prophets who prophesy to you.”
- Jer 23:32Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams,” says Yahweh, “who tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting; yet I didn’t send them, nor command them; neither do they profit this people at all,” says Yahweh.
- Jer 29:31“Send to all them of the captivity, saying, ‘Yahweh says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn’t send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie;”
- Jer 28:15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
- Jer 29:9For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them,” says Yahweh.
- Isa 6:8I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
- John 20:21Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
- Acts 13:4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
- Rom 10:15And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 23:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.